Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Evaluation of Precipitation from Numerical Weather Prediction Models and Satellites Using Values Retrieved from Radars

Slavko Vasić Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Global Environmental and Climate Change Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

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Charles A. Lin Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Global Environmental and Climate Change Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

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Isztar Zawadzki Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Global Environmental and Climate Change Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

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Olivier Bousquet Centre de Météorologie Radar, Météo France, Paris, France

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Diane Chaumont Ouranos Consortium on Regional Climatology and Adaptation to Climate Change, Montréal, Québec, Canada

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2007MWR1955.1
Page(s):
3750–3766
Restricted access

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Abstract

Precipitation is evaluated from two weather prediction models and satellites, taking radar-retrieved values as a reference. The domain is over the central and eastern United States, with hourly accumulated precipitation over 21 days for the models and radar, and 13 days for satellite. Conventional statistical measures and scale decomposition methods are used. The models generally underestimate strong precipitation and show nearly constant modest skill over a 24-h forecast period. The scale decomposition results show that the effective model resolution for precipitation is many times the grid size. The model predictability extends beyond a few hours for only the largest scales.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Slavko Vasić, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada. Email: slavko.vasic@mcgill.ca

Abstract

Precipitation is evaluated from two weather prediction models and satellites, taking radar-retrieved values as a reference. The domain is over the central and eastern United States, with hourly accumulated precipitation over 21 days for the models and radar, and 13 days for satellite. Conventional statistical measures and scale decomposition methods are used. The models generally underestimate strong precipitation and show nearly constant modest skill over a 24-h forecast period. The scale decomposition results show that the effective model resolution for precipitation is many times the grid size. The model predictability extends beyond a few hours for only the largest scales.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Slavko Vasić, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada. Email: slavko.vasic@mcgill.ca

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